Cable cutter



Dec. 3, 1946, R. TEMPLE CABLE CUTTER Filed Feb. 11. 1944 INVENTOR BY [17W 4;, ATTORNEYS.

WITNESSES:

Patented Dec. 3, 1946 CABLE CUTTER Robert Temple, Swissvale', Pa., assignor to Temple Velocity Equipment, Inc., Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware v Application February'll, 1944, Serial No. 522,022 A I 3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to explosively actuated tools for cutting cables and the like, and more particularly to such tools which are fired by manually operable means.

When invasion boats attempt to land at foreign beaches, they sometimes are stopped by nets, cables, rods, and the like placed in the water off shore by the enemy. Of course, these obstructions 'have to be removed before the boats can proceed, but it is a long and difiicult task to cut the submerged nets and cables with ordinary cutting tools. There also are many other places where it would be desirable to have available an easily manipulated and operated cable cutting tool.

It is among the objects of this invention to provide a cable cutting tool which is explosively actuated, which can be operated under water by a man in a boat, which can be fired more than once without reloading, and which is easy to handle and operate.

These and other objects are attained by connecting a frame to one end of a long handle and providing one side of the frame with a recess for receiving a cable, rod, or the like, all of which will be referred to herein as cables. A chamber block is mounted in the frame behind its cable receiving recess and is provided with a plurality of forwardly opening chambers. The chamber block is movable transversely of the frame to a plurality of different predetermined positions in each of which one of its chambers opens into the back of the recess. Each of these chambers contains a projectile-like cable cutting member slidably mounted therein. The chamber block is also provided behind each chamber with a bore for receiving an explosive charge, suchas a blank cartridge. The frame is connected tothe handle through a firing mechanism that include's'a firing pin behind which there is a spring. A trigger, which extend across the firing pin to which it is operably connected is pivotally supported at one end beside the pin. Manually operable means is provided for swinging the opposite end f the trigger rearwardly to retract the firing pin which, upon release of the trigger, is'driven forward by the spring to explode the cartridge. The force of the explosion drives the cutting member across the recess and thereby severs any cable held therein. Preferably, the trigger-actuating means consists of a slidably mounted element normally disposed in front of the freeend of the trigger, and a line attached to this element and extending out to the outer end of the handle. When this line is pulled it causes the trigger-actuating element to swing the trigger back until the element slips over the end of the trigger and. thereby releases it. The chamber block may be in the form of a block which is held in each of its different positions by manually releasable means connected to the frame.

' The preferred embodimentof the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a side view of my cable cutter with the frame and chamber block shown in section; Fig, 2 is another side view of the cutter turned 90 from Fig. 1 and showing the firing mechanism in section; Fig. 3 is a front end View of the cutter; Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken on the line IV-.-IV of Fig. 2 with the cartridges removed; and Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse section taken on the line V-V of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing, anintegral block like metal frame I is provided in one side near its front end with an inwardly extending recess 2 adapted to receive and hook onto a cable. Be-

hind this recess and spaced therefrom the frame is provided with-a rectangular slot 3 that extends entirely through the frame from its recessed side. Fitting snugly but slidably in this slot is a block-like chamber block 4 provided with a pair of forwardly opening elongated chambers 6 and l. The frame has a barrel 8 connecting the back of the recess with the front of one of the chamber block chambers with which the recess is axially aligned when the chamber block is correctly po-' sitioned behind it. The barrel has substantially the same diameter as the chambers. The portion of the frame in front of recess 2 is provided with a bore in axial alignment with passage 8 and containing a cutting block Ill that is backed up by a nut II screwed into the front end of the bore. The cutting block is provided with a central passage ,I2 concentric with the frame bore and of substantially the same diameter as barrel 8 at the other side ofthe recess.

Slidably mounted in each chamber block chamber is a projectile-like cable cutting member l6 provided in its front end with a transverse latter is provided behind each of its chambers with a bore 20 in which an explosive cartridge 2| is inserted. When the chamber block is in the position shown in Fig. 2 the cartridge behind chamber 6 is directly in front of a firing pin 22 3 slidably mounted in an axial passage 23 in an elongated breech member 24 that is screwed into a threaded socket in the rear end of the frame. The point of the pin projects into a short bore that connects passage 23 with frame slot 3.

The firing pin has an enlarged central portion between the front end of which and theframe there is a light coil spring 26 that normally keeps the point of the pin spaced at short distance from the chamber block. At the opposite end of the firing pin there is a heavier coil spring 21 which normally does not exert any pressure against the pin. As shown in Figs. 2 and 5, the central portion of the pin has a transverse slot 28 through it which may have an open side, and the breech member is provided with a pair of longitudinally extending slots 36 and 3i that register with the opposite ends of the pin slot. Loosely disposed in the pin slot i a trigger 32 which projects into the breech member slots. One end of this trigger is pivotally mounted in slot 3i on a pin 33 extending through the breech member. When the firing pin is in normal position the trigger leans toward the from; of the tool, as shown in Fig. 2, and the pin may be releasably locked in this position by means of a removable safety key 34 extending through transverse openings in the breech member and the firing pin.

The free end of the trigger projects a slight distance from slot 39, and its front surface is engaged by an actuating element 36 in the form of a small block which is slidable along a flattened area on the breech member. As shown in Fig. 5, this element has lateral projections which extend into guiding groovesin the breech member to hold the element in place. The element is inserted in these grooves from their rear ends, and then is prevented from escaping from them by means of a screw'3i attached to the breech member. Attached to the trigger-actuating element is a flexible line 38, such as a wire or cord, which extends rearwardly along a pole-like handle 39 the front end of which is rigidly mounted in a socket in the back end of the breech member.

The outer end of line 38 can be slidably attached to the handle by a screw eye Ml through which the line extends. A pull ring 4| is fastened to the end of the line.

When the chamber block is loaded and in the position shown in the drawing, if the pull ring is pulled, the trigger-actuating element 36 will be drawn back along the breech member and will thereby swing the adjoining end of the trigger away from the frame. This movement of the trigger draws the firing pin back in breech member passage 23 against the r :sistance of rear spring 21. After the actuating element has moved a predetermined distance it slides across the adjoining end of the trigger and thereby releases it. Immediately the compressed rear spring drives the firing pin ahead and causes it to strike and detonate the cartridge 2| in front of it. The force of the explosion builds up behind the cutting member in front of it until it is sufficient to cause the cutting member to shear off the adjoining shear pin l1, whereupon the cutting member shoots forward out of the chamber block, across the cable-receiving recess 2, and out through the passage I2 in cutting block iii. A section of the cable caught in recess 2 at the time is cut from the cable by the cutting member and driven by the trigger and is once more disposed in front of 4 it. Spring 28 permits the firing pin to move forward far enough for element 36 to slip across the trigger, and then the spring retracts the pin 'just enough to cause the trigger to engage the back side of the element. The tool is made ready for firing again by moving the chamber block in frame slot 3 until chamber I containing the other cutting member registers with frame barrel 8 directly behind 'the cable-receiving recess. The firing mechanism can then be actuated again in the same way as before to fire the second cutting member across the recess and out of the frame. It is then necessary to reload the chamber block before the tool can be used again. 7

To hold the chamber block in the frame and yet permit it to be moved to its different firing and reloading positions, one side of the chamber block is provided with three small depressions orsockets 46, 46, and 41 arranged in a straight line extending in the direction of movement of the chamber block. Beside this line of sockets the frame is provided with a central transverse opening the inner portion of which is larger-than the outer portion. Slidably mounted in the enlarged portion of this opening is a spring-pressed plug 438 having a stem extending out of the opening and provided with a knob 49 outside of the frame.

This plug is adapted to project into whichever socket happens to be located beside it at the time. and to thereby releasably lock the chamber block in that position. The sockets are so positioned that when the plug is in center socket 46 the chamber block chamber 3 registers with frame barrel 8, and the other chamber block chamber is located far enough inside the frame to prevent the cutting member and adjoining cartridge from falling out. After the first cutting member has been shot from the frame, plug 48 is pulled out 'far enough to permit the chamber block to be -moved in frame slot 3 until the plug seats in rear socket 41. Chamber I is then behind the cablereceiving recess while empty chamber 6' is outside of the frame where it can be reloaded after the second cutting member has been discharged from the chamber block. To reload chamber I the chamber block is moved back through the frame until plug 48 projects into socket 45. In

I this position chamber 1 is disposed outside of the frame where it too can be reloaded. Of course.

the cartridges are replaced at the same time.

To prevent the chamber block from accidentally sliding out of the frame, the side of the chamber block opposite the positioning sockets is provided with a groove 5| extending lengthwise of slot 3 and slidably receiving the reduced inner end of a stop screw 52 that is mounted in the side of the frame; all as shown in Fig. 4. The overall movement of the chamber block is thus limited by engagement of the opposite end walls of this groove with the stop screw.

It will be seen that a man standing in the front he can readily sever the cable by merely pulling on ring 4|. Then, without taking time to reload the tool, the chamber block can be quickly shifted and another cable cut. This greatly increases the rate at which such cables can be cut, and it all is done without any substantial effort on the part of the operator and without his getting into the water. Of course, this tool can also be used effectively out of water for cutting rods and cables. In emergencies it can even be used as a gun because the cutting elements make effective projectiles aeiaeca that can be fired a considerable distance when there is nothing in the cutting recess.

In the following claims this tool has been referred to as a cable cutting tool to simplify the terminology, but it is to be understood that the word cable" is to be construed broadly to include rods, pipes, and any other objects that can be received and severed in the cutting recess,

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained the principle and construction of my invention and have illustrated and described what I now consider to represent its best embodiment. However, I desire to have it understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

I claim:

1. In a cable cutter, a frame provided with a barrel and also provided with a slot extending transversely through it at the rear end of the barrel, a chamber block 'slidably mounted in said slot and provided with a pair of forwardly opening chambers, a cable cutting member slidably mounted in each of said chambers, means for selectively holding the chamber-block in three positions, one of said chambers being located outside of the frame for reloading when the chamber block is in one of its end positions, the other chamber being in alignment with said opening when the chamber block is in its center position, said other chamber being located outside of the frame for reloading when the chamber block is in its third .position with the first-mentioned chamber in alignment with said barrel, said chamber block being provided behind each chamber with a cartridge-receiving opening, and manually operable means for firing the cartridge behind said barrel, whereby to drive the adjoining cutting member into the barrel.

2. In a cable cutter, a frame provided with a barrel and also provided with a slot extending transversely through it at the rear end of the barrel, a chamber block slidably mounted in said slot and provided with a plurality of forwardly opening chambers, a cable cutting member slidably mounted in each of said chambers, means for selectively holding the chamber block in positions numbering one more than the number of said chambers, one of said chambers being located outside of one side of the frame for loading when the block is in one of its end positions, the chamber at the opposite end of the block being located outside of the opposite side of the frame for loading when the block is in a position in which the first-mentioned chamber is in alignment with said barrel, the second-mentioned chamber being ln'allgni'nent with said barrel when the block is in a predetermined intermediate position, said block being provided behind each chamber with a cartridge-receiving opening, and manually operable means for firing the cartridge behind said opening, whereby to drive the adj oining cutting member into the barrel.

3. In a cable cutter, a frame provided with a barrel and also provided with a slot extending transversely through it at the rear end of the barrel, a chamber block slidably mounted in said slot and provided with a pair of forwardly opening chambers, a cable cutting member slidably mounted in each of said chambers, the side of the block being provided with three laterally spaced sockets, a spring-pressed member attached to the frame and normally projecting into one of said sockets for temporarily locking the breech block in any one of three positions, one of said chambers being located outside of the frame for reloading when the'chamber block is in one of its end positions, the other chamber being in alignment with said barrel when the chamber block is in its center position, said other chamber being located outside of the frame for reloading when the chamber block is in its third position with the first-mentioned chamber in alignment with said barrel, said chamber block being provided behind each chamber with a cartridge-receiving opening, and manually operable means for firing the cartridge behind said barrel, whereby to drive the adjoining cutting member into the barrel.

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